Walter Knoll (exhibitor at imm cologne 2010, 19.-24.01.2010), one of Germany’s oldest manufacturers of upholstered furniture, cultivates a close partnership with designers and architects – an approach that is key to the company’s success. “New products evolve out of thorough communication, immersing yourself in processes and clarifying ideas. We seek out gaps together, looking for the right opening for something that has never been done before,” says CEO Markus Benz.
Benz, head of the Herrenberg-based company since 1993, sets great store by communication. It is a recurring theme that is also reflected in the company’s products. Take the Ameo lounge chairs by Austrian design team EOOS, for instance: they are ideal for relaxing with friends and putting the world to rights. The island-like swivel chairs can be turned to face one another for a conversation or away from the crowd for a moment of reflection, open to new perspectives. Or Living Landscape – another EOOS design. The sides and back turn with the seat and change their position.
29. October 2009
Categories: Business, Exhibitors, top designers
Tags: Ameo, architects, Ben van Berkel, brand strategy, branding, channelling, Commercial Bank, communication, designers, Dornier DO X, Dubai, durability, ecology, EOOS, fine piping, furniture, Germany’s oldest upholstered furniture brand, hand-sewn seams, Hearst Tower, innovation leader, intelligent design, intense colours, international designers, international top design, Kengo Kuma, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Living Landscape, long-term collaboration, long-term success, Markus Benz, MYchair, natural resources, new solutions, Norman Foster, parallel stitching, prestigious, quality, Red Dot Design Award, Reichstag, Rolf Benz, Saudi Arabia, sculpture in space, secret of success, solidity, stability, Tate Gallery, top designers, top-quality workmanship, UNStudio, upholstered furniture, upholstery, Vostra, Walter Knoll, Weissenhof Estate
